The Crimson Skull

Khorne draws fewer true cultists than the other Chaos Gods. Tzeentch can provide great magical prowess, Slaanesh can bestow gifts of intense pleasure or pain, and Nurgle can provide mastery over plague and disease.    Certain groups are often attracted to one of the Chaos Gods in particular. Acolytes, hedge wizards and sorcerers may be drawn to Tzeentch, doctors, alchemists and barber-surgeons to Nurgle, the wealthy and pleasure-seekers to Slaanesh, and warriors to Khorne. Khorne provides less subtle gifts than the other three and the strength and power that he can bequeath make him an obvious temptation for warriors. Of course, many of his followers do not realise the true corrupting power of Chaos and have no idea that eventually they will be fully consumed by the gift of rage that the Blood God provides.   Some people can resist longer than others, but weaker minds are quickly overcome by the strength writhing within them and become mindless killing machines. The weakest succumb to the Realm of Chaos completely, warping into a mere parody of their former selves as slavering chaos spawn. If a warrior pleases Khorne, he has been known to continue to bless his chosen so he might better carry out the will of the Blood God. While one cultist in a million may eventually step upon the path to becoming a daemon prince, the rest will, at some point, have their bodies fail to accept the changes thrust upon them. Scyla Anfingrimm was once one of Khorne’s greatest champions, a warrior of immense strength hailing from the Northern Wastes.   He killed by the thousand and received many rewards from Khorne until, at last, his wasted body collapsed and transformed into a spawn. Although Scyla still curries the favour of Khorne (unlike other chaos spawn), he is now fated to forever walk across the blasted, snowy wasteland, consuming all that he encounters.    Khorne’s power to transform and recreate flesh should not be underestimated, as the story of his consort, Valkia the Bloody, demonstrates. Once a great warrior queen of the North, Khorne looked upon her with something almost approaching fondness until she perished in battle. Wracked with a rage that could have carved nations in two, Khorne set about rebuilding Valkia’s broken body. He raised her from death and made her part daemon prince, so that she would never fall again. Her body now sprouts great leathery wings, and from her forehead burst forth two massive horns, adding to her already considerable might. She now stays with her lord, master and consort, often commanding his armies within the Realm of Chaos. The day she flies against mankind will be a day untold thousands breathe their final breath, such is the power Khorne has infused in her.

Khorne requires blood. Khorne requires skulls. Khorne requires violence, destruction, and utter subservience to this cause. His blessings are not a sign of kindness, love, devotion, or even care. They are a means to an end, designed to increase the efficiency of his killing machines, driving them on to greater acts of ferocity. If Khorne does not care about the lives of his minions, the minions themselves seem to care even less. The hate that fills them eventually dominates their every thought. Driven onwards in battle, Khorne’s followers eagerly sacrifice themselves to the blade and retreat is never an option.   The Blood God himself sits impassively; he simply seeks out destruction and bloodshed and cares not from where it comes. His indifference does, however, mean that Khorne is always in need of new champions. There is a dual purpose to this need. When a warrior falls, a new one is needed to step into the breach, to take his place so that Khorne can gain the upper hand in his struggle against the other Ruinous Powers. Secondly, fresh blood can test his existing champions. If they meet in a challenge, then Khorne can only benefit. If the existing champion emerges victorious, then he will have learned something from the warrior he has just defeated, increasing his already impressive skills with his chosen weaponry.   If the challenger walks away alive from the combat, then the defeated warrior was a weakling and unfit to serve Khorne. His body will make a meagre sacrifice, but no more.

Gifts of Khorne The greatest of Khorne’s servants sometimes ascend to daemonhood. While some will not have the physical or mental strength to accept such an abundance of gifts, devolving into mindless, gibbering chaos spawn, others will gradually take on a more impressive stature, growing free of their mortal shackles. For instance, the mortal body of Valkia the Bloody, consort of Khorne, has been almost totally transformed; her upper body has grown horns and wings.   Whatever gifts are bestowed, those with the Mark of Khorne look to seek out and challenge others worthy of combat, especially other devoted Khorne worshippers.   The Blood God favours those who sacrifice friends, allies, and enemies alike to him, and there is no greater trial than to destroy another Khornate warrior in mortal combat. Any beast of Chaos can be gifted with a Mark of Khorne, a symbol of the god’s blessing, although this special gift is most often given to the strongest and most ferocious among them.   Additionally, Khorne can also bestow his gift upon certain chosen warriors and marauders. These mighty warriors are filled with a mere portion of Khorne’s rage and yet it propels them into battle like they have been possessed. Warriors bearing the Mark of Khorne are more muscled than their comrades and have some other outward sign of the blessing they have received, such as red eyes, tears of blood, or great brands burned into their chests and arms. The Gifts are as follows:   Gift of Arms - A weapon of the Blood God.   Gift of Beasts - Beasts or servants to aid his chosen.   Gift of Flesh - Mutations that grants strength and ferocity.   Gift of Will - Unbreakable willpower and bloodlust.   Gift of Title - Granted a Daemonic name. Chosen to one day ascend Daemonhood.